Paul Details the Purpose of the Spiritual Gifts
given to Believers Part 3
Ephesians
4:15-16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things,
which is the Head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love. KJV Paul begins here to tell these Ephesian believers and every one of us true believers today what we must be about with one another and that is “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). In total contrast to them and us being deceived by the evil or twisted trickery of false teachers, Paul declares that we should be truthful with one another lovingly and this will be a wall of defense keeping us from error. The English phrase “speaking the truth” is translated by one Greek word aletheuo which means to be true as not concealing (in doctrine and profession): - to speak or tell the truth. There is but one and only truth and that is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and His Eternal Holy Word. The truth however, is not enough on its own, therefore, the Apostle Paul adds the qualifier to each of us speaking truth to one another and that is “in love” because truth spoken to someone without love being its motive and energy is cruel and brutish, but also love absent truth being its substance is fantasy, imagination, and completely void of reality as the Proverb declares, “Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:5-6).
The supreme purpose of these various spiritual gifts given to men and women in the Church is for the growth of the Body of Christ every individual member of Christ Body needs to grow into spiritual maturity so that the entire Body can grow strong spiritually in this world. The gifts of ministry are not to make men and women famous so they can acquire more temporal earthly goods traveling around the world with their names in lights or on reality TV shows, but that the gifts given to them by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself are so that we (the Body) “may grow up into Him in all things” (Ephesians 4:15) as he declared with these words to the Colossian believers, “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the entire Body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.” (Colossians 2:18-19). Paul wants these Ephesian believers and us today to reconcile, realize, and remember that every born again believer has one goal and that is to be conformed into the image of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and this is only accomplished when “the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth” (Ephesians 4:16).
The Apostle Paul uses the English phrase “fitly joined together” making a comparison of Christ Spiritual Body to that of a physical body and this phrase is translated by one Greek word sunarmologeo which means (in its original sense of laying); to render close jointed together, that is, organize compactly: - be fitly framed (joined) together. In other words, just as every joint, muscle, ligament, arteries, veins, etc. in the human body must be in the proper places in the body (void of disease) that it would grow up properly from infancy to adulthood, likewise, every believer in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ must exercise their spiritual gift or gifts in the proper place appointed by our Lord Jesus in order for His Spiritual Body to become full grown spiritually into His Stature (void of the spiritual disease of error) able to take on the enemy and his minions and win every spiritual battle as Paul has already informed them and us that our Lord Jesus has the enemy under His Feet as he wrote earlier with these words, “And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the Church [a headship exercised throughout the Church], Which is His Body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that Body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].” (Ephesians 1:22-23).
The English word compacted Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word sumbibazo which means (to force; causatively [by reduplication]; to drive together, that is, unite (in association or affection), (mentally) to infer, show, teach: - compact, assuredly, gather, instruct, knit together, prove. In other words, Paul continues his theme from the beginning of his introduction of these varying spiritual gifts to these Ephesians believers and to us today of our Lord Jesus Christ goal of unity or oneness of love, doctrine, purpose, desires, affections, etc. of every individual joint supplying what they are gifted to supply to the whole Body to facilitate its spiritual growth into maturity as Paul said elsewhere in this manner, “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” (Romans 12:16) or in this manner, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10) or finally in this manner, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2).
My own Personal Note: “It is the cooperating work of every individual part or member of Christ Body working properly or exercising properly their spiritual gift or gifts in their function as an engines individual parts cooperate with one another in order to drive an automobile, or train, or bus, or plane along its path to reach its final destination safely, likewise, our final destination is our upward calling ‘in Christ’ (Philippians 3:14). It is the Holy Spirit that energizes each part or member of the Body to accomplish this end goal successfully by nourishing the Body with the washing of water by the Word of God (1 John 2:27).”
“The vitality of the Church of Christ does not depend so much upon the large and visible features of its construction-upon Synods and Conferences, upon Bishops and Presbyteries and the like, influential and venerable as these authorities may be; but upon the spiritual intercourse that goes on amongst the body of its people. ‘Each several part’ of Christ’s great body, ‘according to the measure’ of its capacity, is required to receive and to transmit the common grace. However defective in other points of organization, the society in which this takes place fulfils the office of an ecclesiastical body. It will grow into the fulness of Christ; it ‘builds up itself in love.’ The primary condition of Church health and progress is that there shall be an unobstructed flow of the life of grace from point to point through the tissues and substance of the entire frame.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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